Bundle-tying-wire stretcher



A. J. GERRARD.

BUNDLE TYING WIRE STRETCHER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 5, 1918.

1 372,684., Patented Mar. 29, 1921.

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ALEC J. GERRARD, on NEW YORK, n. Y.

BUNDLE-TYING WIRE STRETGHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 29, 1921.

Application filed September-5, 1918. Serial No. 252,720.

This invention relates to improvements in wire stretching devices. particularly to those types of wire stretching devices used in connection with bundling operations, such for instance, as the bundling and tying of shooks and it is the principal object-of the invention to provide a tool for use in stretching wire about various matter or objects to be bundled subsequent to the arrangement of tying wire strands thereabout, thus compressing the same. whereupon the adjacent ends of the wire strands are twisted or otherwise joined to form an effectual tie and maintain the matter or objects in compact bundled form.

Another and equally important object of the invention is to provide the tool with novelly arranged handles for actuating the wire gripping jaws pivoted shank engaging pawls whereby the same can be conveniently engaged by the hand of an operator without shifting the same from a single position. one of said pawl operating handles being so arranged as to cause operation of the wire gripping jaw handle upon movement of the same whereby said wire gripping jaw handlewill be moved to disengaged position with relation to the tool shank, thereby permitting the pawls and wire gripping jaws to be returned to their normal positions on the tool shank in a single operation.

It is also an objectof the invention to rovide the tool with a loop engaging pro-' ection whereby the same can be positively engaged in the loop of a tie wireto permlt the passing of the free end of the wire therethrough into engagement with the wire gripping aw.

ther objects will be in part obvious and in art pointed out hereinafter.

he invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

and releasing the In the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown one of various possible embodi ments of my invention:

Figure 1 is'a front elevation of the improved tool,

F 2 is a side elevation thereof, Fig. 3 is a vertical fragmentary transverse sect on therethrough, and Fig. 4 1s a fragmentary detail in perspectiye of one end of the tool shank engaged with the loop and free end of a tie wire.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, in connection with which like reference characters will designate corresponding' parts throughout the several views, 1 represents the shank or body portion of the improved tool having a grooved projection 2 formed on one end thereof and constituting a nose having an outwardly beveled or tapered tip, the groove extending for a distance along the.upper face of the shank 1 as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 4, for a purpose which will be subsequently described. A handle 3 is secured to the re maining end of the shank 1 and serves, as will-be understood, asmeans for holding the tool in proper position with relation to the bundle about which the tying wire is to be stretchgd.

Extending into engagement with the shank 1 is a laterally disposed operating lever 4, the inner end of the same being provided with a bifurcated portion 5 adapted to be slidably engaged over the opposite faces of the shank 1. A right angularly formed bracket plate 6 is secured to the bifurcated end of the operating lever 4 by passing a screw or similar fastening device 7 therethrough and carries a guide lug 8 on its lower face slidably received in a guide groove 9 formed in the upper face of said shank 1 and extending longitudinally thereof throughout a portion of its length. One end of the right angularly formed bracket plate 6 is bent upon itself as at 10 and is engaged over a portion of a wire gripping jaw 11 which jaw, as will be noted, is pivoted to the bracket plate by a screw 12 or similar form of connection at the curved end 10 thereof; an immovable jaw being formed on the bracket plate by upturning one portion thereof as indicated at 13, whereby to cooperate with the jaw 11 for securelyengaging and holding the free end of the tie wire during the stretching of the same about a bundle. To facilitate operation of the movable jaw 11, one end thereof is formed with an extension bent at angles with relation thereto as at 14 and then off-set as at 15 to provide a handle member 16. which handle, as will be noted, is normally arranged d1- agonally of the tool shank 1, said handle being normally retained in this position through the medium of a contractile coiled spring 17, engaged at one end with an arm 18 carried by the jaw 11 and at its remainlng end with the turned portion 10 of the bracket 6, it being noted in this connection, that with the handle so arranged, the jaw 11 is in its wire gripping position with relation to the immovable jaw 13.

Pawls 19'and 20 formed with elongated handle portions are pivoted between the bifurcated portion of the handle 5 on the opposite sides of the shank 1 as at 21 and are interconnected by means of a contractile coiled Spring 22, whereby they will be normally held in engagement with series of ratchet teeth 23 formed on the opposite sides or edges of the shank 1. The handles of these pawls 19 and 20 extend along the opposite sides or edges of the shank 1, the same being spaced therefrom sufficiently to permit pivotal movement whereby to effect disengagement from the ratchet teeth 23 as may be desired. Furthermore. the handles of the pawls are arranged in proximity to the handle 16 of the wire gripping jaw 11, that is, all of these handles are grouped in order that they can be readily engaged and operated by a user without the necessity of the shifting of his hand from a single position, thus, rendering use of the tool quite convenient. It is to be also noted, that the pawl 19 is arranged adjacent the off-set portion 15 of the extension 14 and in consequence, upon pivotal movement of the pawl, at times, the same will engage the off-set portion 15 and in this way cause collective operation of the wire gripping jaw 11, thereby avoiding the necessity of engaging and moving the handle 16, a feature which will add further to the desirability of the tool, as hereinafter set out.

In using the improved wire gripping tool, the grooved projection 2 is engaged in the looped end 24 of a tie wire 25, said wire having been previously passed about the objects to be bundled, whereupon the free end of the tie wire is and along the grooved projection upwardly into engagement with the wire gripping jaws 11' and 13, said end being positively gripped therebetween due to the normal position of the movable jaw 11 under influence of the contractile spring 17. With the free end of the tie wire properly engaged between the jaws 11 and 13, theoperating lever 4 is rocked back and forth, thus causing the pawls 19 and 20 to be alternately advanced over the ratchet teeth 28 formed on the passed through the loop opposite edges of the shank 1, thereby moving the wire gripping aws in a step-bystep fashion and hence. stretching the tie wire taut about the objects being bundled to the desired extent. 'hen the wire has been stretched suiliciently, the tool can be swung to a position to facilitate twisting of the free end of the wire about the strand in a manner to provide an effectual tie. At this time, it is desired to release the free end of the wire from the gripping jaws 11 and 13 and to permit the same to return to their normal or starting positions on the shank 1. To do this, it is only necessary to move the handles of the pawls 19 and 20 inwardly, thus disengaging said pawls from their respective ratchet teeth 23 whereupon the same can be moved along the shank to their normal positions. If the pawl 19 is positioned adjacent the off-set portion 15'of the extension 11 as shown in the Fig. 1, it will be readily understood that upon movement of the same'to its disengaged position, motion will be also imparted to the movable jaw 11 due to its engagement with the off-set portion 15. thus effecting the release of the free end of the wire from between the jaws as well as the disengaging of the pawl from the ratchet teeth on the shank 1. However, if the position of the pawl with respect to the off-set portion 15 is such as to prevent its moving the same then the handle 16 can be readily engaged by the hand of a user and moved to cause the jaw 11 to be disengaged from the free end of the wire.

Manifestly, the construction shown is capable of considerable modification and such modification as is within the scope of my claims, I consider within the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A wire stretching tool comprising a first named means for operating the same, I

and a second handle engaged with the wire gripping member for operating it, all of said handles being grouped and disposed in close relation to each other to permit-operation thereof without the necessity of shifting the hand of a user from asingle position.

2. A wire stretching tool comprising a shank having a series of ratchet teeth formed on its opposite edges, said shank being provided disposed groove, an operating lever having a bifurcated portion straddling the said shank, an angular bracket plate secured to the bifurcated portion of the operating lever and having a guide lug slidably received in said groove, a wire gripping member carried by said plate, connected to the with a. central longitudinally inmost bifurcated portion of the operating lever and engageable with the series of ratchet teeth, handles engaged with said first named means for operating the same, a second handle on the wire gripping member for operating it, an outwardly tapered nose formed on one end of the shaft centrally thereof and having a longitudinal groove therein, said handles being extended in the same direction with respect to each other and grouped 10 in close relation to one another to permit operation thereof without the necessity of shifting the hand of the user from a single position.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature 15 hereto.

ALEC J. GERRARD. 

